The Washington critic., 1887-12-08
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS,
Parks, Squares. statues. Gardens and
Other Points of Attraction.

washington mas nlfeauy DcCoHe thc
most attractive city of the country. AS
the Capital Of the Nation II presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and u
brief directory of Its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number OF
persons who annually resort TO the po.
iilical metropolis. For 1t is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year 10 this
city to behold the varied objects OF in.
tercst which so thicl;ly stud the his
toric "Ten Miles Square"
The system or Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances TO
all houses, and the decimal system; as
dred numbers being allotted TO each square
or blork-commcrcing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
street south, running south. The odd NUM-
bers arc always on the righthand side GO
ing from the Capitol. and the even numbers
on the ieit-hand side. The city Is divided
into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly; those
those running east and west by the letters
OF tho alphabet, the dividing lines being
SS a4 us GaSS au% soush sris om hs e Gang
itol and East Capitol street. and continue
tion on the same west OF the Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
SAis great building is the central point Of the
original District, md Is the largest cdihce
in the country Its centre marks the Me-
ridian, OF Washington, The middle portion,
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British In 1871. but was completely restored
by iss' 1t incloses the "crypt'-whcre the
remains of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library of Congress, for which -
handsome now ediiice Is being built Just east
OF the Cauitpl, across First street east, the Ro-
t,inda, the old Representatives Hall, now the
Gallery OF Stutuary, aud The old Senate .,am-
her. now tho supreme Courtroom 1heod SUI
Ireme Courtroom, In the iirst story. Is now oc'
cupicd by the Law branch OF the Library.
Tho corner-stonc OF the Capitol extensioh-
the north and south wing;-was laid July =,
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the GRAFTON
Of tho occasion from tie balcony of the
Library. Tho south win. contains the
House of REPRESENTATIVE, and ihe north
tingulshed lot Its historic paintings, for tho
famous brOuze doors. with their has
rollei-. and for Brumldis frescongs. In the
Hall Of statulIry are the natural pictures OF
Potomac marble, representing faces OF GER
tain American stutesmen-a picturesque
freak OF nature. From the little rOtunda,
Immediately north Of the great rotunda, the
staircase TO the top OF the dome begins Its
w'nding way From the top OF the dome, or
Us far as the visitor can ascend, tile view
Of the surrounding country is MAGNIFICENT
Tho Capitol grounds, which formerly were
homely and formal In appearance, have
been transformed into beautiful park and are
now most exqui,itely beautiful. The east base
OF the Capitol Is s9b feet above ordinary low
tidein the Potomac. The total height from east
base to the top of the temple covering the dome
is 2ss feet; the statue Of the Goddess Of Liberty
1p6 feet, making the total height to the crest OF
the statue s0,ll feet. This crest is $50 feet
997 feet aboye low tide In the Potomac, or aiS
feet lower than the apex q the Washington
Monument, which is Immediately west. The
Ia fcat tpvsr ht,y In and
xacres. u is the finest and largest public
building in the world. and In many respects the
costliest and handsomest It Is moreover the
growth of less than q century-a fact which
adds to Its beauty and interest," The original
Capitol, or centre building, Is an imitation,
mot sv;a sS @ of hs Mssoa Gsrrs
grounds and the lights q the city illuminate
picturesque in the world and Is we'll worth a
Journey Of thousand miles to see. The new
western facade and grand staircase COM
pearance of that front Of the Capitol, and Is
one of the finest II not the finest work Of the
kind In this country The cars and herdics run.
ming on Pennsylvania avenue, the brown cars
of the BELT" system, and the Fstreet cars all
pass the Capitol.
The White House.
From the west balcony OF the Capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania avenue, the White House
Is seen rearing It's snowy.hued walls above the
dense mass OF foliage that embowers It, like
gigantic calla lily springing up amid its enfold'
s We're fr the ysw aMy II n
and S Complete ] The White House T Is the e center tier
bowpp SSaPq II ths Sseder ,Ss %
view from the south windows covering the
whole southern front of the city. as the view
hbits the best part Of the Northwest section
to the gaze. The White House is copy OF
the palace Of the Duke Of Leinster at Dublin.
front, which was added during Andrew Jack
sons administration. The reservation in which
1t stands embraces nearly 81 acres, The main
entrance is on the north. reached by the Penn.
sylvania avenue cars, 1t Is two stories high
ON the north, Is built OF white free-stone, 10
feet long by " wide. II contains on the first
iloor the famous Green, Red, Blue and East
rooms, the State Dining Room and the great
ronseryatories. The Blue Room is. the pres-
dents oiiicial reception room and the drawing.
originally designed for q banquet hall aud SO
used as late as 1887, and In the latter part Of
@ Aaam L tSs largest Sr and
most noted room In tho building. 1t Is -
feet high. 20 feet long and 40 wide. II is
Upstairs are the Cabinet room. the private
tho family apartments: Az these rooms
except the latter are open to visitors by special
permisson at suitable hours.
The Washington Monument.
Immediately south Of tho White House stands
the washington Monument, the loftiest siruc.
turc erected by man, and the most imposing
obcllsk ever constructed IL Is built of mar
BILE, 555 feet high above its base, which is 42
feet above tide.watcr. Its cornerstone was
ipid July 4 I'm nd ana the cap-st9ne, forming
1884. In II are ISL blocks OF inserted stones or
copper, gifts from various countries and So
cietles The total cost will be over 81 35O0 0OO
Ii is situated in what will ultimately be a
beautiful park. Inside the Monument Is a large
hydraulic elevator. used to raise the blocks Of
stone during Its erection. When an appropria
tion Is made. which will probably be done by
the Fiitieth Congress, this elevator will be
ntted for passenger use, and the interior OF the
Monument lighted BY electricity and opened to
the public. In the apox Of the Monument are
eight windows, closed by marble shutters, af-
fording an unsurpassed view of the city and
surrounding country At present NO one Is ad
mttei To the Monument.
Lafayette Square.
Immediately north OF the White House is Lafay-
ette Square, the first public reservation IN
Washington that was improved. II contains
the equestrian statue of Andrew jackson, by
Clark Mills. Many OF Its trees are old forest
monarchs, hundreds OF years old. 1t Is In part
u specimen Of the old formal landscape garden
ing so fashionable In England two hundred
years ago, u style that was Imported into this
country. Lafayette Square was, ono hundred
years ago partial graveyard that incosed
the square north on which st. Johns Church
is built. and the square east, on which are sit
uated the Attorney y-Generals s Office formerly
the freedmsn,s a bank the surgeon, r. Gen,e,gal's
formerly used as the United States Bank,
Commodore Decatur's house, corner Fifteenth
aud a.halt and ii streets and the old Club
House. near which Philip Barton Key was
killed by Daniel y. sickles, Member Of Con.
gress from New York. The last bodies from
this graveyard were not removed until 1919.
st. Johns T.. y. Church.
Ct Johns p. E. Church, which has been often
called tho state Church because more Presi.
dents have worshiped there than at any other,
stands at the corner of II and sixteenth streets.
ltatIt t0.I 1 IL.
have worshlpped Presidents Madison, Monroe,
.Inhn QMlncY Ahams lihnm,h tho lntter WIS n